The traffic on the 101 was as horrible as ever. For no apparent reason, every lane of the freeway would speed up to 30 or 40, then come to a complete stop just as quickly. It took me 20 minutes to drive 2 3/4 miles. I thought, "I don't know how people do this every day, twice a day. This is soul...

Last night, on the way home from dinner, I asked Anne, "Do you remember Highlights for Children?" "Of course I do," she said, "I remember how I hated going to the doctor when I was a kid, until I started reading Highlights in the waiting room." "Turn right at this intersection," I said, "and Tra...